Flute



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PITAFF, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUTE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17.054. dated April 14. 1857.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Pri-rrr, of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flutes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

AMy invention consists in placing the mout-h-pieces of flutes at right angles, or thereabout, to the stems or bodies, in order that greater convenience may be afforded to the players, and the distortion of arms, fingers, and neck required in playing upon flutes of the ordinary construction, may be avoided.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the drawing which forms a part of this specification Figure l is a front view of a portion of a flute with my improvement attached thereto; Fig. :2, a side view, and section through the mouthpiece.

A is the body of the flute, which may be of the ordinary construction, and furnished with any of the systems of keys at present in use. Into the top of the body I insert a bent tube B, the top of which is straight and projects at right angles, or thereabout to the body A. Onto the projecting portion of the tube B is fitted another tube O, which with its hole a forms the mouthpiece. The tube O can be turned to any position desired by the player.

D is an adjustable stop common to all flutes.

In playing upon the ordinary flute it is necessary to turn the head partially on one side, and to maintain the arms in an unnatural position, causing distortions and strains which have been 'found to affect the chests of players, and more especially of beginners. The. fingers and wrist too have to be stretched to an inconvenient extent. By my arrangement of mouth piece as regards its position with the body of' the flute, the player' is enabled to hold the instrument in the same manner as he would. hold a clarionet or flageolet, thereby obviating the above mentioned inconveniences. The bent tube B instead of having any injurious effect on the tone of the flute, actually improves it both as regards clearness and volume.

I do not desire to confine myself to the exact form of bent tube shown as the same may be modified and ornamented in various ways without altering the desired result. But

That I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The placing of the mouth pieces of flutes atright angles or thereabout to the stems or bodies of the same for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

J OHN PFAFF.

Vitnesses:

HENRY HowsoN, C. CHAMBERS, Jr. 

